Click The Title Of The Post To Comment And Don't Forget To "Subscribe to Endurance Riding" To Stay Updated On My Journey Towards The Tevis Cup!

For the last several years, my life has been a whirlwind of school, kids, and managing a home with my husband, not to mention running my own non-profit in between and working part-time. Since my graduation from Chico State University on December 16th and getting through the holidays with limited chaos, I have had the opportunity to discover what it is like to have an (almost entirely) unrestricted schedule. Gary and I are re-discovering our marriage, which had its challenges in the beginning. I am re-defining my role as a wife and mother and I am appreciating that I have more time to spend with my children. Jakob, Declan, and I have been going hiking and spending lots of time in the kitchen, making everything from homemade soup to Indian food and blending smoothies and baking. Jakob and I have been riding more and Jakob has taken up bareback riding, a new challenge for him.

As I am sitting here writing my first blog of the new year, I am thankful for everything I have. It has been a long road to get to where I am today. I have learned, in the meantime, that most things are not given. Nothing is free. Everything comes with a price, and what is most valuable, is earned.

I was rejected from nursing school three times. I saved all those rejection letters. I was finally offered a spot in the program (a few weeks after receiving my third rejection letter) when someone dropped out of the program. Once in nursing school, I spent more than one early morning complaining about having to get up for hospital clinical. Half-way through the program, I wondered if I should have gone to veterinary school instead (until I realized how many credits short I was of qualifying as a candidate for vet school). I considered returning to my previous theatre arts major, or just dropping out altogether and turning my current job into my career. But when I was reminded of how much hard work went into getting accepted to nursing school, I couldn’t let it go. So I stopped looking for alternatives.

Now that I have graduated and I’ve been working as a Registered Nurse for several months, I am seeing how many doors have opened up and how many more opportunities I have. I also see how much more I have to learn.

This is it. The first day after graduation I woke up and realized, “This is the first day of the rest of my life.” And this year is it – the year before the Tevis Cup. When I think of everything Asali and I still have yet to figure out – saddle fit, hoof boot issues, feeding and training schedules – I become overwhelmed, but I am determined to figure it out, for I have discovered what rewards come when you refuse to give up, even when all you want to do is that.

Leave a Reply

Featured

Click The Title Of The Post To Comment And Don't Forget To "Subscribe to Endurance Riding" To Stay Updated On My Journey Towards The Tevis Cup! For two and a half years, my life has been consumed by the Tevis Cup. From our first 25 mile ride to the 75 miler we completed one month […]

Want To Help?

We are once again riding for a cause! This year, our Tevis 2018 ride will be dedicated to Kristina Chesterman and all donations made through this website will go to pay our amazing veterinarians at the Kristina Chesterman Memorial Ride, an AERC-sanctioned charity ride being held in September in Magalia, CA.

ALL proceeds raised from the Kristina Chesterman Memorial Ride will go directly to the Kristina Chesterman Memorial Clinic in Nigeria. Please help us put on a successful ride! We have a goal of raising $900 before this ride in September.